Snow is on the ground and the air is filled with the smell of baked goods and spices (at least it is at our place). You know what that means. The holidays are sneaking up and that means it’s time for our Ramblin’ Holiday Gift Guide for 2014. Our guide will cover all of our favorite things for the travel and pet lovers in your life.
Ramblin’ Travel Holiday Gift Guide 2014
Backpacks
We received these great bags over a year ago and use them almost every day. They have been around the world and back and somehow still manage to look brand spankin’ new. I would love to get Ignoble to send me a new one, but I don’t have the need because mine is still almost exactly in the same shape as the day I received it. It’s hard not to include them in my gift guide again this year. – See more in our Ignoble Backpack Review
Luggage
This should be self-explanatory. Travelers need luggage. :) Since we spend most of our time traveling by car we have a little more space than other travelers, but still try to be as efficient as possible. We like this rolling Ful Duffel bag since it has separate compartments and is super durable. We’ve had ours for well over 18 months now and it’s still in great shape. Ful Duffel on Amazon.
Luggage Tags
Luggage tags are all the rage now (at least they are for me). Gone are the days when I borrow my mom’s luggage with the 20 ribbons of different colors tied to the handles so I can identify my bags on the carousel. This cutey is at Barnes & Noble
Travel Electronics Organizers
Traveling with a slew of electronics has now become the norm. Phones, cameras, laptops and tablets all need chargers and other accessories and it is easier to find them if you keep them all organized in one place. – Get this Electronic Organizer Set at Amazon
Travel Socks
This may seem like a weird gift for a traveler, but I assure you it’s something we always need. We walk through so many pairs of socks. They get wet, muddy and gross and washed and rewashed and so gifting a fun pair of socks is always a thoughtful thing to do. – Travel Socks at Amazon
Mini Perfumes
This one is easy. No one wants to travel next to a stinky person. Also remember to spritz with caution though. No one wants to travel with someone that smells like they doused with a whole bottle of the stuff either. This collection of mini-perfumes will help you smell great while traveling light, and keep that pesky TSA off your back. Mini-Perfume on Amazon
Travel Mugs
We hate buying bottled anything. Even though we most often fill our reusable travel mugs with coffee, we normally end up using them all day when we are in the car. We will also occasionally use them to split large bottles of drinks, which are always much cheaper than their single serving counterparts. You can find this beauty at Starbucks.
Travel Coffee Maker
Coffee! Oh sweet coffee. We make it a point to travel with our own beans and always have a way to brew them. Coffee is something that if we are lacking, can bring our entire world to a halt. Not good while road tripping. We always have a way to get our morning (and afternoon) fix. – Get your Aeropress Travel Coffee Maker at Amazon
Scratch Off Travel Map
We are reusing this from last year’s gift guide since it was so popular. These are cute for the young traveler and the travelers that are young at heart. – You can find this stocking stuffer on Amazon.com
Umbrella
In all honesty, I have an umbrella that I never remember to bring with me. Then it inevitably rains and I get soaked and full of regret. This cute umbrella at Amazon would definitely keep me dry.
Travel Pillows
No one wants to use one of those airplane pillows that someone may or may not have drooled on. I have a travel pillow and I use it in the car, on airplanes, and sometimes in hotels when i need an extra. I sleep well knowing the only person that drooled on it was me (and maybe my husband). – Samsonite Travel Pillow at Macys
Instant Camera
Who prints their photos anymore? I know we don’t. They stay on our hard drive and we never get to see them. It’s one of the downfalls of technology. An instant camera is a fun way to get some instant gratification and share photos with your new travel buddies. –Get this FujiFilm Instamax bundle at Cameta Camera
Photo Albums
Once you take some pictures with your instant camera, display them in a pretty photo album. Creating memories is great, revisiting those memories can be just as sweet. – Check out this Photo Album at Barnes & Noble
Headphones
There are about five or six sets of headphones in our bags. We love music and it is essential for getting our writing and editing done. We don’t always agree on what kind of music we chose to write to, so headphones become a necessity for peacekeeping. Check out these compact and travel friendly Wireless Beats Headphones.
Mini Travel Speakers
When we do agree on music, it’s nice to have a little pair of speakers that we can pull out and plug in. Mini speakers are also good for mood setting in hotels (if you know what I mean :wink wink:) – Boombotix Travel Speaker
Travel Journals
In this age of technology, I love the nostalgia of grabbing a fancy pen and cute journal and actually taking notes. It’s like a trip back in time for me. This cute Travel Journal is at Barnes & Noble and is less than 10 bucks!
Travel Flask
This giftable flask is not only pretty, but it helps carry alcohol. Sometimes you find yourself at an event or just chilling by poolside and it’s nice to not have to tote around a giant ugly bottle of something. –
Find this Travel Flask at Macys.com
Entertainment Book
We loved these and bought one for every city we ever lived in. These books are chock full of coupons and savings on everything from restaurants to dry cleaning. – Buy the NEW 2015 Entertainment Book Today! Includes Digital Membership where you can get savings in over 110 major cities in the US and Canada!
Bark Box
All pet owners love getting cute gift baskets for our four-legged friend. Trust me, Zoe loves this idea as well. – Sign Up for Bark Box
Pet Carriers
For all of our “biker” pals with pets, why not take Fido with you. Dogs love the outdoors and this is a great way to get in your ride without leaving the pooch at home. This 3-in-1 cute carrier also works well to strap Fido into a seatbelt to keep him/her safe in the car and it approved for airplane travel. – Pet Carrier at Amazon
Haha, that pet carrier is a tad ridiculous. I do like the cute luggage tag, though.
the cool thing with the carrier is that it is great for cars and planes too. Essential for an avid pet traveller!
I am all about those travel socks! Such fun colors :)
I know which one I’m getting Casey! That travel coffee maker looks right up her alley. (shhh don’t tell ;-)
I won’t tell Dan, but it’s the perfect gift for a coffee lover. I’ve used mine almost daily since I got it.
I love the idea of colorful travel socks–they really would help to brighten up your travel wardrobe when it starts to feel dingy :)
And my dog, Posey, would love that Bark Box… I’m going to look into that!
Great gift ideas! A travel journal and scratch off map sound like fun additions! Thanks for sharing your list!
The travel mug in black color looks so elegant and exclusive. I would really love to have one for Christmas.
I love the pet carrier. What fun if you have a small dog that will fit comfortably in it. Just don’t crash!
It’s super cute. Now if only I had a dog small enough for it….
Wow! I never knew they made travel coffee makers. You just changed my life! :)
I have that travel mug and it’s just as fantastic as it looks online! I also like Contigo’s vacuum sealed mugs.
I also LOVE those cute compression socks! Mine are so ugly and are a horrid nude color. I’m definitely going to have to get a cuter pair.
While I disagree with several of these (I’d never let someone else pick out a backpack or a rolling bag for me, and if one more person is like ‘oh, she travels, here are some noise canceling headphones’ I will scream…but not be able to hear myself scream, ears covered in noise canceling headphones as they’d be) I do want to say: packing cubes! Yes! They are for more than just electronics. They are LIFE CHANGING. Also: travel flask? YES PLEASE!
Great list! I always love getting socks and travel size perfume! That little coffee thing looks great–I feel like that could definitely come in handy!
Nice choices! I love my travel mug and socks but could use some travel speakers, ideal for in-room listening!
I’m a sucker for cute luggage tags :)
Oliver would love the Bark Box!!! But I’d rather have that travel mug.
Vanessa,
I believe Oliver should win on that one (but I am biased). :)